VeKa has its head office in Werkendam, a village at the edge of the Biesbosch and the Merwede. Not only is the head office based here, one of the finishing yards is also situated at Biesboschhaven Noord. The logical consequence of a company such as VeKa within the municipal boundary is that a great many staff are also resident in the same municipality, which strengthens bonds further.

Thanks to VeKa's close relationship with the municipality of Werkendam, it seems fitting to provide a little more information on the municipality of Werkendam with regard to history and the reason for its familiarity.

The history of Werkendam

The name "Werkendam" originates from the damming of the small river De Werken. This damming took place in around 1230 as part of major hydraulic works in the Grote Waard or Zuid-Hollandse Waard. Some regard "Wirkenemunde", first mentioned in 1064, as the origin of Werkendam. The so-called "ambachtsheerlijkheid" (a Dutch administrative unit of the time) of Wirkenemunde did not fall under the authority of Altena, but under that of the bailiff of South Holland in Dordrecht.

The Saint Elizabeth's Flood of 1421 had a great influence on the history of Werkendam. Dikes in the Grote Waard or Zuid-Hollandse Waard failed due to a storm flood, putting large parts of the area under water. Due to disagreement between polder managers, the dikes were not immediately repaired and a large inland lake was thus created. First known by the name Bergsche Veld (after the town of Geertruidenberg), when rushes later grew on the deposits the name was changed to Biesbosch ('rushwoods'). And thus for almost six centuries the history of Werkendam has been inseparably connected with the Biesbosch. As Werkendam was a river village, Werkendammers in the Middle Ages lived off fishing and hunting birds. Later on, the trade of osier worker was established in Biesbosch due to its large market for brushwood and hooping wood. Werkendam thus acquired its world-wide reputation in the field of road and waterworks. Throughout the world, dikes and harbours are constructed by Werkendammers. Until the 20th century, the rich contractors, mockingly known as 'griendbaronnen' or osier barons, lived in the stately mansions on Hoogstraat. The 'Biesboschuilen' lived in the district of Zevenhuizen, also called Over de Haven ('over the harbour'). This is also how Werkendam got the name Vrouwenhemel. The many Biesbosch workers and dike workers were often away from home due to work. This could be for a week, or it could be for months. The women stayed behind in the village, giving rise to the name 'Vrouwenhemel' or 'women's heaven'.

One famous event was the village fire in 1641, which the Rev. Schevenhusius meticulously recorded in the church register. A total of 81 houses in both Werkendam and De Werken fell prey to the sea of flames. In addition to the many village fires, Werkendam also suffered from the plague and floods in the 17th century.
The presence and unpredictability of the river forced the population to gain better control of the water.
Werkendam was an independent municipality until 1950, when it was merged with De Werken. The municipality consisted of the village De Werken, situated adjacent to Werkendam, and the villages of Sleeuwijk and Kille. In 1973 the village of Nieuwendijk was added. In 1997 the municipality of Werkendam was merged with the municipality of Dussen.

Of course, an organisation such as VeKa has a great deal of contact with the municipality in connection with the development of the harbour and industrial area. Thanks to its growth over recent years, VeKa has completed a number of new construction projects on the quayside, which would not have succeeded without the cooperation of the municipality of Werkendam. For the future, too, good collaboration is necessary; growth continues and there is a constant need for more finishing opportunities.
At the celebration of our 20-year jubilee, Mayor Hellegers addressed the board of directors and the public during the public festivities on the quayside at Biesbosch harbour. In this address, Mayor Hellegers emphasized the importance of a company such as VeKa for the municipality of Werkendam.